Waste disposal



Aug.`23,` 1960 c. cv. SMITH ETAL v v' WASTE DISPOSAL vFiled June 12, -1958 "s sheetg-sheet 1 e' a'eayzm@ ATTO RN EYB WASTE DISPOSAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1958 NN n mN. vg l l .m 1 y W l E? Sw.

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ATTD R N EYE Aug. 23, 1960 c. c( SMITH ErAL WASTE DISPOSAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 12. 1958 INVENTUM l yf/M55 a swr/Lf* ATTD RN EYB wasrn DISPOSAL Chai-ies C. Smith, 4494 Chindin, and Robert F. Prohi, 2717 Fargo St., both of Boise, Idaho Filed June 12, 1958, Ser. No. 741,597

'3 Claims. (Cl. 241-4'0 This invention relates to a garbage or waste disposal unit.

The object of the invention is to provide a waste disposal unit for use in a sink or other location, whereby garbace or refuse or waste can be readily and eiiiciently ground up so that the refuse or waste can be conveniently discharged through the drainage` system of the .sink or other member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a waste disposal unit which includes a pair of cutting assemblies which are adapted to rotate in opposite directions, and wherein each of the cutting assemblies is provided with a plurality of cutting or grinding blades so that when the waste disposal unit of the present invention is mounted in a sink such as the sink of a home, garbage, refuse, waste or the lre which is fed into the disposal unit will be readily ground up so that this waste material can be conveniently discharged through the sink outlet along with a suitable quantity of iluid such as water from the spigot or faucet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a waste disposal unit which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisv application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure l is an elevational view illustrating the waste disposal unit, constructed according to the present invention, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the waste disposal unit of the present invention and showing the lower portion of the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the lower portion of the housing or hopper and its associated parts.

Figure 5 is a sectional View illustrating one of the cutting assemblies.

Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating the other cutting assembly which rotates in the opposite direction from the assembly of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating the upper disk for the assembly of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figure l() is a sectional view taken on the line itl- 1d of Figure ll.

Figure 1l is a sectional view taken on the line li-il of Figure 10.

Figure l2 is a plan view illustrating the lower disk for the assembly shown in Figure 6.

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on the line 13-l3 of Figure 12.

y 2,950,065 Patented Aug. 23, l@

Figure 14 is a plan view illustrating one of the cutting disks for the assembly of Figure 5.

Figure 15 is a sectional View taken on the line 15-15 of Figure 14.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the waste disposal unit of the present invention includes a hollow housing or hopper ill which includes a cylindrical outer wall member 1.2 and an upper outwardly flaring flange 1l, Figure 1. Connected to the lower end of the housing 1G is a collar 13 which includes a lower inner threaded portion 14. The numeral 15 indicates a casing which embodies a cylindrical wall piece 16 that has its upper end arranged in threaded engagement with the portion 14 of the collar 13, Figure 2. The casing 15 further includes a horizontally disposed bottom wall 17, and positioned below the casing 15 are support members 18 and 19.

Secured to the collar 13 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding is a stationary base 2h, and a stationary cutting blade 2i is secured to the base Ztl in any suitable manner, as for example by means or" screws or bolts 22.

As shown in Figure 6, there is provided a first cutting assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 23, and the cutting assembly 23 of Figure 6 is adapted to rotate as a unit. The cutting assembly 23 includes a shaft 24 which has a pulley 25 on the lower end thereof, and the pulley 2.5 is adapted to have an endless belt or the like trained thereover, and whereby said belt can be driven by a conventional motor. A hub 27 is connected to the upper end ofthe shaft 24, and connected to the hub 27 is a iirst upper disk 2.8, Figure 3. The iirst disk 28 is provided with an arm 29, and the arm 29 includes a iirst portion 3h which is secured to the upper surface of the disk 28 by means of securing elements 31. The arm 29 further includes an inclined second portion 32 and a horizontally disposed third portion 33, and the portion 33 is adapted to sweep over the stationary cutting blade 2i when the disk 2S is rotating so that the portion 33 of the arm 29 will coact with the blade 21 whereby refuse, waste or the like will be ground or cut-up so that it may be later discharged through the usual uid system in a kitchen or the like. The disk Zd is provided with a pair of openings 34, and arranged adjacent the openings 34 are cutters 35 which are secured in place by securing elements 35. The cutters 35 are adapted to coact with the bottom of the blade 2i so as to further help in grinding up or cutting up the waste. rlhere is further provided a plurality of superimposed ring members 37, and the disk 28 is conn nected to the upper ring member 37 by means of securing elements 38. The ring members 37 are secured together by suitable securing elements such as bolts 39.

The cutting assembly 23 further includes a second disk 40 which is arranged in spaced parallel relation below the irst disk 28, and the second disk 40 includes an annular rim 4l which is interposed between certain of the ring members 37. As shown in Figure 7 the second disk 40 includes a plurality of spaced apart fingers 42 which are each provided with a lower beveled cutting edge on their inner end, and such cutting edge is indicated by the numeral 43. Spaces or cut-outs are provided between thc fingers 42.

The cutting assembly 23 further includes a third disk which is indicated generally by the numeral 44, and the disk 4d is shown in Figures 1G and 11. The cutting disk 44 includes a cutaway portion 46 which defines in the disk 44 shoulders 45 which are provided with upper and lower beveled cutting edges 47 and 4S.

Referring now to Figures l2 and 13 of the drawings, there is illustrated a fourth disk 49 of circular formation, and the disk 49 includes a central cutaway portion 50 which terminates in rectangular cut-outs or cutaway portions 51, and upper and lower beveled cutting edges 52 and 53 are arranged adjacent the cut-outs 51. The disk 49 is arranged in -spaced parallel relation below the third disk 44.

rIhe waste disposal unit of the present invention'further includes a second cutting assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 54, Figure 5, and the cutting assembly 54 is adapted' to rotate in the opposite direction from the cutting assembly 23 shown in Figure 6. The cutting assemblies 23 and 54 interit and coact, and the cutting assembly 54 includes a sleeve 55 which surrounds the shaft 24 and which rotates in the opposite direction therefrom. A pulley 56 is connected to the lower end of the sleeve 55 for rotating the assembly 54, and the pulley 56 can be operated from any suitable power source. As shown in the drawings, the sleeve 55 includes a lower portion S7 of reduced size, and an upper portion 58 of increased size. Surrounding the upper portion 53 of the sleeve 55 is a plurality of ring pieces 59 which may be keyed thereto or otherwise connected thereto, and the assembly 54 further includes a first or upper cutter unit which is indicated generally by the numeral 6i), Figures 5 and 8 and Figure 9. The first cutter unit 60 includes a circular plate 61 which is secured to the upper end of the sleeve 55 so that as the sleeve 55 rotates, the cutter unit 60 also rotates. The cutter unit 60 is interposed between the disk 2S and the disk 40, as for example as shown in Figure 2, when the unit is in assembled position. The plate 61 is provided With a plurality of openings 62, and arranged contiguous to the openings 62 are cutter blades 63 which are secured to the plate 61 as for example by means of securing elements 64.

Arranged below the first cutter unit 6l) is a second cutter unit 65, Figures 14 and 15, and the cutter unit 65 includes a plurality of body members 66 which are arranged offset with respect to each other. body members 66 includes an intermediate rounded .portion 67 provided with an opening 68 for the projection therethrough of the sleeve 55, and extending outwardly from the rounded portions 67 are oppositely extending blades 69 which are provided with lower and upper beveled cutting edges 70 and 71.

Arranged in spaced parallel relationship below the second cutter unit 65 are third and fourth cutter units 72 and 73, and the cutter units 65, 72 and 73 all have substantially the same construction. However, the lower cutter unit 73 includes blade portions which are slightly extended as at 74 so that these extended portions 74 Will iit beneath the lowermost ring member 37 on the cutting assembly 23. The various cutting units 60, 65, 72, and 73 all rotate in the same direction and at the same time as the sleeve 55, and these cutter units 60, 65, 72, and 73 are interposed or positioned between the disks on the cutting assembly 23 so that there will be an interaction or coaction between the various blades which revolve in opposite directions so that the material passing down through the waste disposal assembly will be finely and readily chopped up or ground up so that it can be conveniently disposed of. The material which has been ground up or chopped up is adapted to be discharged through an outlet conduit 75, and for helping to ush the material through the conduit 75, a tubev or conduit 76 can be used for conveying water or Aother fluid from a source of supply to the conduit 75. The numeral 77 indicates conduits which can be used for introducing a proper amount of water into the hopper or housing 10. As shown in Figure l, a suitable lock 78 can be used for maintaining the parts in their proper assembled position.

Secured to the lower surface of the first disk 28 is a pair of cutter bars 79, and the cutter bars 79 may be secured in place by suitable securing elements 80. Suitable ball bear'ing assemblies can be used wherever desired or required.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there hasbeen provided a disposal unit which is especially suitable for grinding up or chopping up waste material such as ma- Each of the terial which results from operations or work around a kitchen such as a kitchen in a home. In use, the device may be mounted below an opening in a sink so that garbage, refuse or the like will be received in the hopper or housing 10. The outwardly flaring ange 11 provides a guide surface so that the garbage or refuse will be guided down through the housing 10, and this material will be worked on or ground up and the ground up material Will pass out through the discharge conduit 75 and from the conduit 75 the material can be conveyed to any suitable or desired location. Basicallyor broadly the device cornprises two assemblies 23 and 54 which rotate in opposite directions and each of these assemblies includes a plurality of cutting elementsso that the material passing down through the device will be chopped up or cut-up into small pieces or ne particles whereby these small particles can be readily Washed out through the discharge conduit 75.

The operation of the cutting mechanism is as follows. As the material moves'downwardly, it is to be noted that it is initially acted upon by the arm 29 which has its portion 33 arranged to sweep over the stationary blade 21. The arm 29 is connected to the upper disk 28, and the disk 28 is driven by the shaft 24, the shaft 24 being rotated by means of a suitable drive mechanism such as the pulley. 25. The blade 21 is stationary, so that it will be seen that as the arm 29 revolves, the garbage or refuse will be acted upon by the coacting arm 29 and blade 21 and at the same time, the revolving disk 28 carries the cutters 35 which move below the stationary blade 21 so as to further cut-up the garbage or refuse. This material whichhas been acted on or initially cut-up then passes through the openings 34 in the upper disk 28, and the material gradually works its way downward and is worked upon by the various previously described cutting elements. Thus, after the material passes through the openings 34 in the disk 28, it is worked on by the coacting blades 63 on the cutting unit 60 and the blades 79 on the lower surface of the disk 28 so that the material is further reduced in size. This material then passes down through the openings 62 in the cutter unit or plate 61, and the material is next worked on by the second disk 40 and the second cutting unit 65, it being understood that these members rotate in opposite directions. The disk 40 includes the sharp cutting edges 43 on the arms 42, and the cutting unit 65 includes the plurality of members 66 which have sharp cutting edges 70 and 71, and these various rotating cutting members serve to further grind up or chop up the garbage or refuse passing down through the device. The refuse then is worked on by the third disk 44 which has the cutting edges 47 and 48, and the material is then worked on by the cutting unit n 72, and then by the fourth disk 49 which has the cutting edges 53 and S2, and nally the material is further ground up or chopped up by the lower cutting unit 73. The units 72 and 73 have substantially the same construction and operate as the previously described unit 65. Finally, the nely ground material passes out through the discharge conduit 75, and the conduit 75 may be ushed out by means of Water introduced through the conduit 76.

It is to be noted that the waste disposal unit of the present invention includes a novel knife and blade action wherein 4the waste to be disposed of is cut finer and has less chance of clogging the device and furthermore, the device can be easily and cheaply repaired in the event that foreign matter accidentally drops in the hopper. The device beats as Well as cuts the material so that the material can pass more easily through the drain.

The device can be used for cutting and beating various materials such as produce or other material whereby such material can be converted into pulp and then mixed with water to form a soft semi-liquid mass which can be easily discharged through a pipe or sewer.

The machine has a positive shearing action between the knives and the cutter blades so that various materials such as strong fibre products such as celery, cabbage, corn husks and the like as well as certain foreign matter will be readily chopped up or cut-up into small pieces. The assemblies 23 and 54 rotate in opposite directions so that a highly turbulent effect is created and the unit iS highly compact and ruggedly constructed. Furthermore, there are no worm gears, rams or the like so that the device can be used with the utmost safety. Furthermore, the device is inexpensive to produce and maintain and the hopper, and other parts can be readily removed in the event that the parts are to be cleaned or replaced so that damage to the lower blade area is prevented. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in diierent shapes or sizes. Thus, where desirable, tempered steel can be used, and also certain of the parts may be made of aluminum or other materials.

In use, the waste material is placed in the hopper l0 where it can be saturated with water from the two inlets 77 and this material falls onto the disk 2S where it is cut and picked up by the knives and this material then passes through the openings 34 and the material is forced down onto the cutting unit 60 which rotates in the opposite direction from the disk 28 and the material is forced through the openings 62 and the material is continually worked on by oppositely acting knives or blades until it reaches the bottom outlet 7S where it is mixed with additional water from the tube 76 and then the material can be readily discharged.

The sweep arm 29 coacts with the stationary blade 31 and chops up the material due to the velocity of the arm 29 as well as the impact and there is also a positive shearing action so that the material will be chopped or cut into small pieces, and the arm 29 also acts as an agitator. The cutting members 35 also have a shearing action when passing under the stationary cutter bar 21 and the cutter units 65, 72, and 73 may each consist of four blades or body members 66 which are arranged in staggered relation, as for example as shown in Figure 14.

It will be understood of course that the invention contemplates such other embodiments or modifications as may occur to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

l. In a waste disposal device, a hollow housing includmg a cylindrical outer wall member, an outwardly flaring ange on the upper end of said housing, a collar connected to the lower end of said housing and said collar including a lower inner threaded portion, a casing including a cylindrical wall piece having its upper end arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded portion of said collar, said casing further including a horizontally disposed bottom wall, a stationary base secured to said collar and projecting inwardly therefrom, a stationary blade secured to said base, a vertically disposed shaft extending through said casing and said shaft having a pulley on its lower end, a hub connected to the upper end of said shaft, a rst disk connected to said hub, an arm including a first portion secured to the central portion of said disk, said arm further including a second inclined portion which terminates in a horizontally disposed third portion for coaction with said statonary blade, there being a pair of spaced apart openings in said disk, a pair of cutters secured to said disk for coaction with the bottom of said stationary blade, a plurality of ring members secured below the outer periphery of said disk, a second disk arranged in spaced parallel relation below said first disk and said second disk including an outer circular rim which is interposed between certain of said ring members, said second disk further including a plurality of spaced apart lingers which each have a lower beveled cutting edge on their inner end, a third disk arranged in spaced parallel relation below said second disk and said third disk being provided with a cutaway portion defining pointed shoulders and upper and lower beveled cutting edges, a fourth disk mounted below said third disk and said fourth disk including a cutaway portion which deiines substantially rectangular cut-outs having upper and lower beveled cutting edges contiguous thereto, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and adapted to be rotated in the opposite direction sleeve including an upper portion of increased size and a lower portion of reduced size, a plurality of superimposed ring pieces arranged contiguous to the upper portion of said sleeve, a first cutter unit including a circular` plate connected to the upper end of said sleeve and said plate being interposed between said first and second disks, there being openings in said plate, cutting blades secured to said plate and arranged contiguous to said last named openings, a second cutter unit secured between certain of said ring pieces and said second cutter unit being interposed between said second and third disks, said second cutter unit comprising a which are arranged offset with respect to each other, each of said body members including a central circular portion connected to said sleeve and each body member further including a pair of oppositely extending' blades which have upper and lower beveled cutting edges thereon, a third cutting unit interposed between said third and fourth disks, a fourth cutting unit positioned below said fourth disk, an outlet conduit extending from the bottom of the casing, means for introducing fluid into said outlet conduit, and means for introducing liuid into said housing.

2. In a waste disposal device, a hollow housing, a collar connected to the lower end of said housing, a casing having its upper end arranged in engagement with said collar, a stationary base secured to said collar, a stationary blade secured to said base, a vertically disposed shaft extending through said casing and said shaft having a pulley on its lower end, a hub connected to the upper end of said shaft, a first disk connected to said hub, an arm having a horizontally disposed portion for coaction with said stationary blade, a pair of cutters secured to said disk for coaction with the bottom of said stationary blade, a plurality of ring members secured below the outer periphery of said disk, -a second disk arranged in spaced parallel relation below said first disk and said second disk including an outer circular rim which is interposed between certain of said ring members, said second disk further including aplurality of spaced apart iingers which each have a lower beveled cutting edge on their inner end, a third disk arranged in spaced parallel relation below said second disk and said third disk being provided with a cutaway portion defining pointed shoulders and upper and lower beveled cutting edges, a fourth disk mounted below said third disk and said fourth disk including a cutaway portion which defines substantially rectangular cut-outs having upper and lower beveled cutting edges contiguous thereto, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and adapted to be rotated in the opposite direction from said shaft, a plurality of superimposed ring pieces arranged contiguous to the upper portieri of said sleeve, a first cutter unit including a circular plate connected to the upper end of said sleeve and said plate being interposed between said first and second disks, cutting blades secured to said plate, a second cutter unit secured between certain of said ring pieces and said second cutter unit being interposed between said second and third disks, said second cutter unit comprising a plurality of body members, each of said body members including a pair of oppositely extending blades which have upper and lower beveled cutting edges thereon, a third cutting unit interposed between said third and fourth disks, a fourth cutting unit positioned below said fourth disk, an outlet conduit extending from the bottom of the casing, means for introducing fluid into said outlet conduit, and means for introducing uid into said housing.

3. In a waste disposal device, a collar, a hollow housing having its lower end arranged in engagement with said collar, a casing having its upper end arranged in from said shaft, said.

plurality of body members 'parallel relation engagement with said collar, a stationary base secured to said collar, a stationary blade secured to said base, a

Vvertically disposed shaft extending through said casing -and said shaft having a pulley on its lower end, a hub connected to the upper end of said shaft, a first disk connected to said hub, an arm having a horizontally disposed portion for coaction with said stationary blade, a pair of cutters secured to said disk for coaction with the bottom of said stationary blade, a plurality of ring members secured 'below the outer periphery of said disk, a second disk arranged in spaced parallel relation below said rst disk and said second disk including a plurality of spaced apart ngers, a third disk arranged in spaced below said second disk and said third disk being provided with upper and lower beveled cutting edges, a fourth disk mounted below said third disk and said fourth disk including substantially rectangular Ieut-outs having beveled cutting edges contiguous thereto, 4a sleeve surrounding said shaft and ladapted to be rotated in the opposite direction from said shaft, a plurality of superimposed ring pieces arranged contiguous to the upper portion of said interposed between said rst and second disks, cutting 4blades for said cutter unit, a second cutter unit being interposed between said second and third disks, said Second cutter unit comprising a plurality of body members, each of said body members including a pair of oppositely extending blades, a third cutting unit interposed between said third and fourth disks, a' fourth cutting unit positioned below said fourth disk, an outlet conduit extending from the bottom of the casing, means for introducing uid into said outlet conduit, and means for introducing tluid into said housing.

sleeve, a first cutter unit References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,420 Green oet. 7, 1947 2,731,208l Dodd Jan. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 873,050 Germany Apr. 9, 1953 

